e name you bear, by your love to my father, aid me to
quit these walls."

In great astonishment, Marmaduke stared, without reply. "Do you deny me,
sir?" said Anne, almost sternly.

"Lady and mistress mine," answered Marmaduke, "I am your servant in all
things. Quit these walls, the palace!--How?--the gates are closed. Nay,
and what would my lord say, if at night--"

"If at night!" repeated Anne, in a hollow voice; and then pausing, burst
into a terrible laugh. Recovering herself abruptly, she moved to the
door, "I will go forth alone, and trust in God and Our Lady."

Sibyll sprang forward to arrest her steps, and Marmaduke hastened to
Adam, and whispered, "Poor lady, is her mind unsettled? Hast thou, in
truth, distracted her with thy spells and glamour?"

"Hush!" answered the old man; and he whispered in Nevile's ear.

Scarcely had the knight caught the words, than his cheek paled, his
eyes flashed fire. "The great earl's daughter!" he exclaimed.
"Infamy--horror--she is right!" He broke from the student, approached
Anne, who still struggled with Sibyll, and kneeling before her, said, in
a voice choked with passions at once fierce and tender,--

"Lady, you are right. Unseemly it may be for one of your quality and
sex to quit this place with me, and alone; but at least I have a man's
heart, a knight's honour. Trust to me your safety, noble maiden, and
I will cut your way, even through yon foul king's heart, to your great
father's side!"

Anne did not seem quite to understand his words; but she smiled on him
as he knelt, and gave him her hand. The responsibility he had assumed
quickened all the intellect of the young knight. As he took and kissed
the hand extended to him, he felt the ring upon his finger,--the ring
intrusted to him by Alwyn, the king's signet-ring, before which would
fly open every gate. He uttered a joyous exclamation, loosened his long
night-cloak, and praying Anne to envelop her form in its folds, drew
the hood over her head; he was about to lead her forth when he halted
suddenly.

"Alack," said he, turning to Sibyll, "even though we may escape the
Tower, no boatman now can be found on the river. The way through the
streets is dark and perilous, and beset with midnight ruffians."

"Verily," said Warner, "the danger is past now. Let the noble demoiselle
rest here till morning. The king dare not again--"

"Dare not!" interrupted Marmaduke. "Alas! you little know King Edward."

At that name A